A major UK road safety initiative is warning of the dangers of driving with bald or under-depth tyres, with unsafe driving consequences possibly costing drivers up to £10,000.
As part of the October Tyre Safety Month campaign, road safety and breakdown firm GEM Motoring Assist is highlighting the issues around unsafe tyres.
Neil Worth, GEM road safety officer, said: “We rely on our tyres to keep us safe on journeys. After all, they provide the only contact between the car we’re driving and the road surface.
“In an extreme situation, correctly inflated tyres with good levels of tread will allow all the other safety systems on a car to work at their most effective.
“Inadequate tread or incorrect pressure mean one thing: the safety systems on your vehicle will not work as efficiently. That’s why regular checks on tyre inflation and tread depth are so important.”
Drivers could face a fine of £2,500 for having just one tyre deemed illegal and face a points penalty of three points per tyre.
There is a simple test for checking the state of your tyres, with advice on the tyresafe.org website saying: ‘Tread depth is important to maintain good grip on wet roads but, as the tread wears down, the tyres will lose the ability of good grip. The ‘20p test’ is a quick way to check the tread depth. Place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves at three points across the tyre and then repeat around its circumference. If the outer band is visible, the tyres may be unsafe or illegal and need to be checked by a tyre professional.
‘Tyre pressure is equally important. Having the right pressure ensures the car handles as it should, reduces the risk of a sudden deflation and helps keep fuel consumption of the vehicle at its optimal level. The car manufacturer typically displays the correct pressures in the door shut or filler cap, but it can always be found in the owner’s manual or on TyreSafe’s pressure checker. Remember there are two pressures – one for normal loads and the other when fully laden.
‘While you’re checking pressures, it’s a good opportunity to have a look at the tyre’s condition. Tyres are never manufactured with lumps, bumps or objects sticking in them, so if you see any of these, you’ll need to have the tyre inspected. If objects like stones are wedged in the tread, remove them if you can.’